House: Labeling Requirements for Genetically Modified Organisms in Foods  Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to the House Amendment to the Bill

House: Iran Sanctions  Passage

House: Fiscal 2017 Interior Appropriations  Passage

House: Bar Iran from U.S. Financial System  Passage

Editor’s Note: Both chambers are in recess until September 6.

Recent Senate Votes

Opioid Programs  Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Conference Report – Vote Agreed to (90-2, 8 Not Voting)
Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the conference report on the bill that contains numerous provisions to combat increasing rates of opioid drug abuse, including through modifications to prescribing and pain management practices, by creating or modifying programs to expand access to treatment, particularly access to opioid overdose reversal drugs or medication-assisted treatment that eases withdrawal symptoms, and by establishing or strengthening specific programs for vulnerable groups such as drug-addicted infants. It also requires the Veterans Affairs Department to take several actions to better manage and track the use of opioids by veterans.Sen. Charles Schumer voted YESSen. Kirsten Gillibrand voted YES

Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization  Motion to Concur in the House Amendments to the Senate Amendments to the Bill – Vote Agreed to (89-4, 7 Not Voting)
The bill extends the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization through September 2017. It also includes language that would require the FAA to check on security practices in overseas airports that service direct flights to the United States.Sen. Charles Schumer voted YESSen. Kirsten Gillibrand voted YES

Opioid Programs  Agreeing to the Conference Report – Vote Agreed to (92-2, 6 Not Voting)
The conference report on the bill contains numerous provisions to combat increasing rates of opioid drug abuse, including through modifications to prescribing and pain management practices, by creating or modifying programs to expand access to treatment, particularly access to opioid overdose reversal drugs or medication-assisted treatment that eases withdrawal symptoms, and by establishing or strengthening specific programs for vulnerable groups such as drug-addicted infants. It also requires the Veterans Affairs Department to take several actions to better manage and track the use of opioids by veterans.Sen. Charles Schumer voted YESSen. Kirsten Gillibrand voted YES

Fiscal 2017 Defense Appropriations  Reconsideration of Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Bill– Vote Rejected (55-42, 3 Not Voting)
The Senate rejected a McConnell, R-Ky., motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill that would provide billions in discretionary defense spending for the Defense Department.Sen. Charles Schumer voted NOSen. Kirsten Gillibrand voted NO

Fiscal 2016 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Conference Report  Reconsideration of Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Conference Report – Vote Rejected (52-44, 4 Not Voting)
Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the conference report on the bill which would provide $1.1 billion in supplemental funding for the government to prepare for and respond to the public health threat posed by the Zika virus, and it would provide a total of $185 billion for the Veterans Affairs Department and military construction in fiscal 2017  including $82.5 billion in discretionary spending subject to the budget caps, $102.5 billion in mandatory spending and $172 million in Overseas Contingency Operations funding. The Zika funding would include $933 million in domestic funding and $175 million for international activities, with approximately $750 million of the total being offset through rescissions to Ebola, Affordable Care Act, and other Health and Human Services Department funding. Sixty votes are needed to invoke cloture.Sen. Charles Schumer voted NOSen. Kirsten Gillibrand voted NO

Recent House Votes

Judicial Deference in Rule-Making  Passage – Vote Passed (240-171, 22 Not Voting)
The bill effectively overturns two Supreme Court decisions that require courts to give substantial deference to an agencys interpretation of the law it is implementing and to its own interpretation of regulations.Rep. Louise Slaughter voted NO

Prohibit Purchase of Heavy Water from Iran  Passage – Vote Passed (249-176, 8 Not Voting)
The bill prohibits federal funds from being used to purchase heavy water (a byproduct of nuclear fuel processing) from Iran, or to issue licenses to purchase heavy water.Rep. Louise Slaughter voted NO

Abortion Conscience Rights  Passage – Vote Passed (245-182, 6 Not Voting)
The bill prohibits the federal government, as well as state and local governments, from penalizing, retaliating against or otherwise discriminating against a health care provider because the provider does not provide or sponsor abortion coverage. It provides for a complaint process and civil actions for any violations through the Health and Human Services and Justice departments.Rep. Louise Slaughter voted NO

Labeling Requirements for Genetically Modified Organisms in Foods  Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to the House Amendment to the Bill – Vote Passed (306-117, 10 Not Voting)
The bill establishes the nation’s first mandatory requirements for food companies to label genetically modified food products. The measure directs the Agriculture Department to create within two years regulations for determining which foods qualify for labeling as genetically modified. The proposal offers food companies the option of on-label disclosure, the use of a symbol developed by the Agriculture Department or electronic bar codes that consumers can scan with their smart phones.Rep. Louise Slaughter voted NO

Iran Sanctions  Passage – Vote Passed (246-179, 8 Not Voting)
The bill generally expands and strengthens existing sanctions against Iran related to its ballistic-missile program, support for international terrorism and its ongoing record of human rights abuses against its own population. Specifically, the measure requires that the president apply terrorism sanctions to the Revolutionary Guards within 120 days of enactment, rather than giving him the discretion available under current law.Rep. Louise Slaughter voted NO

Fiscal 2017 Interior Appropriations  Passage – Vote Passed (231-196, 6 Not Voting)
The measure provides a total of $32.1 billion in net discretionary spending subject to budget caps. It increases funding for the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service but cuts funding for EPA, the Bureau of Land Management, Office of Surface Mining and the Fish and Wildlife Service. It includes numerous policy provisions including those to prohibit EPA from limiting greenhouse gas emissions for new and existing power plants, limits methane emissions from the oil and gas industry and regulates air emissions from offshore operations.Rep. Louise Slaughter voted NO

Bar Iran from U.S. Financial System  Passage – Vote Passed (246-181, 6 Not Voting)
The bill codifies existing regulations that prohibit the administration from allowing the U.S. dollar to be used to facilitate trade transactions with Iran, and it upholds Iran’s designation as a “primary money-laundering concern.” The prohibition covers direct dollar transactions and “work-arounds,” including dollar-clearing, dollar-based conversions and dollar-related foreign currency transactions.Rep. Louise Slaughter voted NO